Lake Shore
Hosp Authority

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last Monday night, July 14, the
Governor Scott appointed Lake Shore Hospital Authority
Board demonstrated again that when it comes to
transparency and accountability it is the worst public
agency in Columbia County. The Authority Board members
and its General Manager, Jackson P. "Jack" Berry,
continue to refuse to answer questions from the public;
refuse to post agenda material on the Authority website;
and continue to make public record access almost
impossible by limiting public record inspections to only
one hour a day, early in the morning. During Monday's
July 14 meeting the Board came up with a new trick when
it approved the nonexistent consent agenda. (file photo:
Jack Berry)

The stifling of public comments began in 2012

On June 11, 2012, Elizabeth Porter's Chief of Staff
and Authority Board Chairman, Koby Adams,
nixed public comments at Lake Shore Hospital
Authority meetings. The ban was kept in place by the
next Authority Board Chairman, Dr. Waseem Khan.

Eventually, the Authority Board members were foiled
by Senate Bill 50, which was supposed to give the public
"a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a 'proposition'
before the board."

The Florida League of Cities wrote: "The bill does
not define 'proposition,' but it is likely intended to
be broadly applied to include all matters coming before
the board or commission."

Before last Monday's meeting got underway, your
reporter addressed the issue of public comment with
Board Chairman, Dr. Waseem Khan.

The Observer asked, "This is the only political
subdivision in the county that doesn't take questions
from the public: the only one. How could that be?"

Chairman Khan quipped, "We're unique."

Hospital Manager Berry added, "We're not the county."

Your reporter observed, "You're the Hospital
Authority, appointed by the Governor."

Bucket Full of Issues

In the past few months, a bucket full of issues have
confronted the Authority: the realization of massive
losses of value in Authority owned property; the
termination of 18 yr veteran Sue Fraze in what now
appears to have been a move orchestrated by Manager
Berry to save the Authority money (he announced at the
meeting he wasn't anticipating filling the vacant
position anytime soon); and issues with public records
and the First Amendment Foundation's finding that his
credit check is not protected by federal
confidentiality.

Last Thursday, Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney
Marlin Feagle said he is going to get an opinion from a
"federal attorney" regarding the release of Mr. Berry's
credit report.

When asked why he would not also go to the Florida
Attorney General for an opinion Mr. Feagle was vague.

What were the invoices?

Four days after the meeting, on July 18, Manager
Berry, after many emails, finally admitted there was no
consent agenda.

Efforts to find out what items Board member Chancy
questioned were to no avail.

Finally, at 3:28 this Monday afternoon, Manager Berry
refused to reveal the items in question.

Your reporter had previously sent Mr. Berry a
quotation from the public records law: "A good faith
response includes making reasonable efforts to determine
from other officers or employees within the agency
whether such a record exists and, if so, the location at
which the record can be accessed."

Rather than reveal the items, or inquire of Board
member Chancy, Authority Manager Berry dug in and in an
email wrote, "I am not going to play 20 Questions with
you, I am to busy." (as written)